Astronaut and moonwalker Alan Bean dies at 86
Bean was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 12, which made the second moon landing in 1969.
In this July 15, 2009 file photo, Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean walks through the largest exhibition of his artwork to date, inspired by his experience walking on the moon, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first Apollo moon landing, in Washington. Bean, the Apollo and Skylab astronaut, fourth human to walk on the moon and an accomplished artist, has died. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo, File)
Astronaut Alan Bean, who was the fourth person to walk on the moon, has died.
A statement released by NASA and family members says Bean died Saturday in Houston after a short illness. He was 86.
Bean was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 12, which made the second moon landing in 1969.
He then commanded the second crewed flight to the United States’ first space station, Skylab, in 1973. On that mission, he orbited the Earth for 59 days.
Bean spent a total of 69 days in space, including 31 hours on the moon.
His wife of 40 years, Leslie Bean, said in the statement he died peacefully surrounded by those who loved him.
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